When Breast + Bottle Are Best

All I have to say is . . . wow. I read all of your comments on the combination feeding post and my Instagram and Facebook. Your support means the world to me. I searched forum after forum. Read article after article. And I just couldn't seem to feel OK about this combination feeding thing. You all have helped me feel secure. Thank you for that.

I also found an article recently that actually did help, and it's an interesting read no matter what "side" you're on. Check out The Case Against Breastfeeding in The Atlantic. The title is harsher than the article itself.

Where we are today: I know now that I truly need to try this combination thing to get my sanity. Feeding has been around the clock every 2-3 hours basically since she was born (we did have a few good weeks of sleep in there). I know this is "normal" for babies of this age. But I can't do it anymore. It's making me feel down. It's making me feel out of control.

Admitting this to myself has been a huge step in feeling better.

We have been trying bottles each day filled with about half breast milk and half of a generic organic formula . . . but it's not working out very well. I did go out and buy the Munchkin Latch -- many of you said you had the best luck with this one. She won't really suck it, though. She bites it and thrusts her tongue out a lot. We have taken to feeding her with a spoon and then offering the bottle. It works just a little. I think at most we can get her to take an ounce.

We may even try a Doidy cup because so many of you said it might be fine to skip bottles entirely.

We will keep trying.

This weekend I may go somewhere for the afternoon so that I totally miss one of her feedings. I don't want her to suffer. That is the hard part. I have been going out for jogs while Stephen offers her the bottle . . . but then I quickly intervene and just feed her. We have been offering the bottle for a late afternoon feed, but many of you suggested doing it for the last feed of the day or even during the night.

Whatever happens, I think breast and bottle will be best for us. There is a part of me that mourns exclusive breastfeeding. But it's more the idea of it. That for some reason I cannot deal with it this time around. It makes me feel less-than. Like I somehow don't have the strength to do this most "natural" and wonderful thing for this baby I fought so hard to have join our family. Your words of support have helped me understand that this is not failure, and I hope these words help a host of other women going through similar issues.

So -- again: THANK YOU. More good stuff soon!